BLAZIN' HOT IN AUGUST!!!!

Many of our readers already know that recently Great Strides instructor, Lisa Dye, also became the head instructor for Wakefield Barn in Wake Forest, NC.  Therefore, our news section has begun to spill over at the brim with information.  We are looking to go to a table format with show results and bios for our riders both from Great Strides and Wakefield Barn.  For now, we will try to summarize the news in paragraph form to keep everyone up to speed.

With the addition of Wakefield Barn as one of our locations we wish to welcome the following new clients:

- Blair Watkins and Solid Gold- Children's Hunter

- Meredith Sitze and Sweet Success- Medium Pony Hunter and Equitation

- Gentry Ellis-Safriet and My Little Pepper- Small Pony Hunter

- Natalia VonWinheim and Oberon- Equitation and Jumper Prospect

- Anne and Julie and their new horse "Ruby"- Dressage horse and Hunter Prospect

- Marnie Silverstein and Azucena- Young Jumper

- Marnie Silverstein and Kody- Hunter Prospect

- Erin Hensley and Miller- Young Hunter

- Julie and Sarah Pony- Dressage/Sport Pony

- Morgan and Savannah Gowarty and Isabel- Short Stirrup and Pre-Children's Hunter

- Becca Agocs and Token- wise man of the jumper and hunter ring a.k.a "The Professor"

- Kathleen Watkins and Hatch

- Sarah Hall and Chester- Pre-Children's Hunter

- CJ and Cooper- handsome Conformation Hunter

In August Great Strides attended Culpeper Week #4 with Holly Frick and her horse "Arturo Z", Drake Driscoll aboard "Sonata in D", Makena Cummings and "Heartthrob", Olivia Cummings and "Farnley Cribbage", and Becca Agocs and "Token".

Holly and Arturo Z had a great show finishing:

7th USEF Show Jumping Talent Search

3rd, 5th, 5th, 5th, 4th Large Junior Hunters

4th EJ Haun

A special thank you to Harold Chopping for allowing Holly to use Paniollo in the Zone 3 equitation finals.  What a great horse!

Drake and Sonata in D had a strong performance in the Children's Hunters and Equitations finishing:

2nd, 5th, 5th, 8th, 9th Younger Children's

2nd SCHJA Governor's Cup

5th Taylor Harris

Makena Cummings and her horse Heartthrob finished:

2nd, 3rd, 5th, 5th, 4th Older Small Juniors

Olivia Cummings and Farnley Cribbage had a great week finishing:

1st, 1st, 4th, 2nd Short Stirrup Equitation Champion

1st, 2nd, 5th, 4th Short Stirrup Hunter

1st, 2nd, 1st, 5th Schooling Pony Champion (25 entries)- Makena Cummings Rider

Becca Agocs and Token:

strong rounds in the Level 1 jumpers as well as 6th in the Novice Equitation

***Holly and Arturo Z also attended Week 5 of Culpeper and came home with great ribbons!  Holly and Arturo Z were 2nd in the Maclay and 8th in the USEF Talent Search and USEF Medal as well.  Great Job!

****Also in August, Great Strides and Wakefield Barn attended the Greensboro A Show. 

Gentry Ellis- Safriet and My Little Pepper finished:

Champion Small Green Pony-  1st,1st, 2nd, 3rd over fences, 1st in the hack

Small Pony Hunters: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, and 3rd in the hack

8th NCHJA Pony Medal

Meredith Sitze and Sweet Success finished:

Champion Schooling Pony: 1st, 1st, and 7th in the hack

Reserve Champion Medium Ponies: 1st, 1st, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd in the hack

2nd USEF Pony Medal

1st NCHJA Pony Equitation

 Blair Watkins and Solid Gold finished:

1st Taylor Harris Medal

8th NCHJA Children's Medal

2nd, 3rd, 5th, 5th, 7th in the hack Older Children's Hunter

4th in the days warm up Sunday

Drake Driscoll and Sonata in D finished:

1st NCHJA Children's Medal

2nd Taylor Harris (scored an 87 in the first round!)

2nd,3rd, 5th, 5th, 7th in the hack in the Younger Children's Hunter

Kat North and Worth my PhD finished:

3rd 1.10 meter jumper- Harold Chopping Rider

5th Adult Jumper- Kat North

5th Level 2 Jumper- Harold Chopping

5th Bryan Jones Equitation- Kat North

JOLLY NEWS IN JULY 2009***

Wow! We are just splitting with too much news this month.  Read on for details about the Tryon "A" Rated show and the Raleigh Indoors "C" rated show this month!

Great Strides can now let the cat out of the bag about a wonderful July with our clients.  Tryon "A" Rated show during the 4th of July weekend was quite a celebration.  Drake, Becca, and Savannah all competed well and each horse and rider excelled and learned quite a bit.  After all, this is about learning! 

Becca Agocs and her horse, Raelyn's Token, debuted in the Low Child Jumpers and had a great weekend.  They ribboned in almost every class and won prize money in the Low Child Jumper Classic.  Becca and Token also received numerous ribbons in the 3' medals as well.  Way to go!  We can't wait to get those photos in and post them in our Gallery. 

Drake Driscoll and Sonata in D reminded us that practice makes perfect.  Drake has worked hard to bring Georgie along and they shined all week long in Tryon.  This duo debuted in the Modified Juniors and we think we have one heck of a Small Junior coming out next year!  Drake and Georgie were 5th, 2nd, and 2nd in the Modifieds.  Drake also went on to finish 2nd in the Taylor Harris medal with a score of 80 in the their jump phase.  Sonata in D was also champion of the younger Children's Hunters with two 1sts, two 2nds, and a 5th.  Sonata is D finished 2nd in the WIHS Children's Classic and was named Reserve Grand Champion Children's Hunter.  Wow is all we can say!  Drake has worked so hard to get in the winners circle with Georgie.  We are so proud of them for their accomplishments and look forward to the Small Juniors next year!

Later in July we attended the Raleigh Indoor C show with new cliets Savannah and Morgan Gowarty, as well as Rachel Shields, and Sarah Allen. 

Morgan debuted at her first off the farm show and learned so much.  She and her mare, Isabel, competed in Long Stirrup and earned numerous ribbons in the under saddle and over fences classes.  Each class this pair got stronger and better and were rewarded with lots of ribbons.  Great Job!

Savannah Gowarty also rode Isabel in the Young Entry where they were reserve champion.  They handled the large indoor ring really well and made us proud with lots of ribbons and lots of determination!  Here we come short stirrup!

Sarah Allen and her horse "Repeat Offender" competed in the 12-14 equitation as well as Long Stirrup.  They were named Long Stirrup Hunter Champion on Sunday and earned ribbons in every class all weekend.  Sarah is now ready for the next step and the next mount.  "Archie" will be remain in the family and our program continuing to do what he does best... being the family guy!

Rachel Shields and Sugar Magnolia had an incredible weekend in their pre-children's debut!  They were champion both days and were almost a clean sweep of the division both days.  Rachel and Sugar Magnolia ribboned in the top 3 in every class and had great rounds and really showed off all of their hard work.  Watch out A rated shows... Rachel's coming and Sugar Magnolia has the looks and knowledge to bring home the big ribbons!  Thanks again to Kim Cummings!  We are so lucky to have your girl in our program!

Along with happiness there is a little sadness.  Savannah and her Family have decided to move onto greener pastures away from Great Strides.  We wish Ritchie success in his endeavors and we will always reflect on our fun with him at the shows.  Keep earning those mints Ritchie! Thank you for being such a great pony!

Looking toward the future we welcome Holly Frick and "Tigger" to Great Strides!  "Tigger" has been purchased by the Frick Family and will be competing in the Tad Coffin Zone 3 Equitation Finals this August with Holly.  "Tigger" is a wonderful Ch/Adult Jumper and Maclay/3'6 medal horse.  Great Strides welcomes Holly and The Frick Family!  We are excited to see them reach for the stars!

Also, in the news are two new sales horses.  Please see our sales page for more information.  Both "Risky Business" and "Jasper" are incredible horses with much to offer to their riders.  Great Strides looks forward to pairing them up with their ideal match.

For those of you who may not know... Great Strides has taken on the position as trainer at Wakefield Barn.  We are excited to work with Mary Schilling and the Wakefield Barn.  Please see their webpage for more information www.wakefieldbarn.com .  Great Strides will continue to offer services to their roster of outside clients.  We look forward to the merger of two great companies with the same goals and focus... good riding, good fun, good friends, and great horses!

Look for us at Culpeper Week 4 August 13-16 2009 and Sedgefield "A" Rated show August 28-30. 

Jumpin' Up in June 2009

Great Strides continues to dominate the A show circuit in June and we have a sneak preview into the July news as well. Our riders had a very succesful month at the Greensboro C show as well as divison ribbons at the "AA" NCHJA Annual Show this month.

Special thanks to Vicki Autry for her help in guiding  Rachel Shields and Sugar Magnolia to a champion ribbon ribbon in Short Stirrup this month.  Lisa was down with what she calls "the plague."  Thanks Vicki for pinch hitting!  Rachel earned her ribbons on the one and only "Sugar Magnolia"

June was a huge success for Great Strides and their clients at the NCHJA Annual "AA" show! 

Savannah Strawbridge and Happy Days were Reserve Champion amongst 20 competitors.  Way to Go!  Savannah rode very well and Ritchie continues to be the wonder pony!  Great ribbons and great riding!  The Annual NCHJA horse show was also the debut for Drake Driscoll and "Sonata in D" as well as Kristina Shamberger and "Pursuit of Happyness" 

Drake and "Sonata in D" held their own against tough competion in the Children's, T.H.I.S MEDAL, and the SCHJA Governor's Cup medal.  Drake and her horse were Champion of the Special Hunter Division beating out tough competion and horses from the 2'6 to 3'6 divisions!  This duo went on to have wonderful rounds over the jumper jumps in the SCHJA Governor's Cup and THIS Medal rounds as well.  They jogged or ribboned in every class at the Annual.  Overall:  Champion Special Hunters, 7th SCHJA Governor's cup, 10th THIS Medal, 5th and 7th Children's Hunter 14 and Under.

Kristina Shamberger and her horse, "Pursuit of Happyness", had a great show as well.  Kristina and her horse were determined to earn their way to a ribbon at one of the toughest "AA" shows on the East Coast.  They had a tough division with almost 30 riders but proved that they were in it to win.  Kristina and her horse improved every day and showed that hard work does pay off.  Great Strides is happy to have them on our roster of winning horses and riders!

Alyssa Long and "Miss Congeniality" were a wonderful pair at the Annual Horse Show.  They were ready for success and amongst tough competition they earned an 8th in the Children's over fences out of 27 horses as well as a call back in the undersaddle out of 29 horses.  Great Job!

Great Strides can't wait to tell you the July news too!  Sneak Peek... Tryon "A" Rated show will have great news about Drake Driscoll, Becca Agocs, and Savannah Strawbridge.  There were tri-colors, ribbons of every color, and true determination for success at this show.  Shall we say... "Win by a nose, lose by a hair".... more news later!

MOVING ON UP IN MAY 2009

May 2009 was a great month for us at Great Strides.  There is so much news to report that it is almost hard to fit into a webpage!  Hot topics this month include: Carolina Horse Park results, Lisa Dye being named Head Coach of the FEI CSI-Ch B competition in Santiago, Chile this November, new faces to our Great Strides team, saying good-bye to some friends, and an exciting summer calendar.  So, grab a glass of something cold and join us for a long news update :)

Carolina Horse Park was the close of a great chapter for Savannah Strawbridge and sales pony, Pepperwood Enchanted.  Savannah faced tough conditions and difficult courses to bring home great ribbons including a 2nd in Children's Pony Equitation.  Ella is now leased by a young rider in Greenville, NC.  Best of luck with this special pony who has a heart of gold. 

Great Strides is excited to announce that Lisa Dye has been named Head Coach of the FEI CSI-Ch B competition in Santiago, Chile.  The competition is the first week of November and we will be competing against 15-20 other countries for both individual and team medals.  We are so excited and look forward to announcing the 2009 USA Children's Jumper Team that will compete in Santiago, Chile this Fall.  We will be launching additional web pages just for the team to keep everyone up to speed on our developments.

Welcome Drake Driscoll and her horse, Sonata in D to Great Strides.  Lisa is so excited to have you join us and we look forward to all of our endeavors and adventures together.  This kid has what it takes to make it to the top.  In prior news we have discussed the winning equation... a great riding student, hard work, consistant training, parents who give it their all, and most of all a positive attitude.  For sure, there will be lots of news about Drake! Welcome!

Great Strides is also excited to welcome a seasoned pair, Kristina Shamberger and her horse"Pursuit of Happyness".  This pair is the picture of poise and grace.  We look forward to their Great Strides debut at the NCHJA Annual.  Kristina is one the hardest working girls out there and we are happy to have her come aboard and join us this season! Welcome!

A huge welcome to Madison Hudson and "Tyko" to our program.  This pair is one to watch!  Madison has an amazing way with getting the most from her horse.  She is a lucky girl to be leasing "Tyko" from The Frick Family.  Look for them at upcoming shows in the Pre-Children's division.  Watch out... this kid can ride!

We say best of luck and happy trails to sales horses "Center Stage" and "Pepperwood Enchanted." Great Strides is happy to have had you in our program and of course, we are so happy you have both have found great homes.  Happy trails to our 4-legged friends and be good to your new riders!

The calendar is jam-packed with  events for the Summer 2009!  Look for news about the 81st Annual Tryon A rated show with Ritchie and Savannah making their way to Zone Finals 2009.  Also on the calendar, the Greensboro C show June 12-14... a debut for Rachel Shields and Sugar Magnolia, an exciting return to the jumper ring for Becca and Token, and also a jumper ring debut for Savannah Strawbridge courtesy of Kat North's amazing mare, Chloe (aka "the wonder horse").  Also, in June Great Strides will be attending the NCHJA Annual A Rated Show.  Look for newcomers Kristina Shamberger and "Pursuit of Happyness", Drake Driscoll and "Sonata in D", Savannah Strawbridge and "Happy Days", and Alyssa Long and "Miss Congeniality". 

So, in a nutshell Great Strides is cruising and oh my! it's going to be a wild and fun Summer 2009!

APRIL 2009 BRINGS SHINING MOMENTS FOR GREAT STRIDES

Great Strides attended both the Raleigh Indoor C Show and the 74th Annual Horse Show at Sedgefield Show Grounds in Greensboro, NC this month. For several of our clients April was their 2009 show debut and what a great debut it was for all!

The Allen Family and their wonderful family horse, Archie had a great show in Raleigh this month.  The Allen girls dusted off their show clothes and rode their horse to great ribbons in the Long Stirrup and Young Entry.  Sarah Allen won back to back Equitation Flat Classes Saturday and Sunday. Emily Allen made the leap to cantering all of her Young Entry courses and was awarded well deserved ribbons.  Great Strides is pleased to have such a great family on board and is so thankful to have Archie as a great teacher for the girls!

The 74th Annual Sedgefield A Show was a great season opener for Kat North and her horses, Little Red Rocket and Worth my PhD.  Harold Chopping piloted Worth my PhD to 2 victories over the weekend in the Level 3 classes where they were clean in every class.  Kat North had a thrilling jump off in the NAL Child/Adult Classic on Sunday to capture the 5th place ribbon.  They were clean in the first round and were 4 faults in the jump off with a rail at a tough roll back. Way to go Chloe and Kat!

Kat North also showed her pony jumper prospect, Little Red Rocket.  "Foxy" was a crowd pleaser with multiple clean rounds earning them three 2nd place finishes in the .80 meter classes as well as a 4th place finish in the .95 meter class. 

This show was also an A show debut for Rebecca Agocs and her wonderul horse, Token. Becca debuted for the first time in the jumper arena aboard Token. They were the ideal picture of poise and power in the arena.  Great Strides is excited for Becca's future in the jumper arena.  Becca and Token had a thrilling win the .95 meter jumpers with a double clean round to take the class lead and 1st place**Way to go!!!  Throughout the weekend Becca and Token also racked up a 3rd, 4th, 5th in the Hopeful Jumpers as well as an additional 2nd and 3rd in the .95 meter jumpers. 

Pepperwood Enchanted had a great 2009 A show debut in the Children's Pony Division where she finished Reserve Champion!  This pony is for sale and ready to go and win for your child... see our sales page!

Next stop for Great Strides is the Tryon 'A' Show June 3-7!!!! 

MARCH 2009 NEWS-

Spring has sprung and the rain has come but Great Strides riders continue to florish and grow.  We attended both the Raleigh Indoor C show and the Raleigh Spring Classic A rated show this month. 

The Raleigh C Show was a great one with sunny days and happy kids and adults too!  The Spring weather was wonderful and the ribbons were too! 

Pepperwood Enchanted, owned by Meredith Maye and ridden by Savannah Strawbridge, had a lovely 2009 debut in the C Rated Medium Ponies at 2'3.  "Ella" is a lovely 5 year old, welsh mare with temp. card by First Enchanted out of Baytree Mayday.  Savannah piloted "Ella" to a 2nd and 3rd in the Special Hunters on Friday.  They were the only pony in the class of 15 horses.  Way to Go! "Ella" and Savannah were also 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th in the Medium Ponies over the weekend.  "Ella" is eligible green and ready to go with her own little owner.  Sweet, safe, and fancy too... Great Strides loves this pony.  Contact Lisa at 919 369 3944 or Meredith at 919 851 5400 regarding Ella.  More photos can be seen at www.pepperwoodfarm.com

Center Stage, owned by Mary Kristensen, had a wonderful show also at the Raleigh Indoor C.  They were Reserve Champion of the Adult Hunters!  Way to go "Cato"!!!  "Cato" is available on our sales page and is sure to be a great 3 foot hunter.  He is eligible green as well.  "Cato" is very handsome and a very good mover.  He is lovely on trails and hunter paces too!  See our sales page for more information.

Becca Agocs and "Token" were again strong contenders in the Children's Hunter Division.  They had stellar jumping rounds in tough company.  "Token" finished 3rd, 5th, 5th, and 6th in the Children's Hunter.  Becca rode beautifully in the equitation classes as well.  She finished 5th in the NCHJA Children's Medal!  Great job from a great combination!

Debuting at their first show together, Sarah Allen and Party Shoes, had a great performance.  "Hope" was the perfect picture of grace and poise.  Her rider and owner, Sarah Allen, has been working hard this past  year and it really paid off!  Sarah and "Hope" won their Long Stirrup Equitation Flat!  Way to Go!  They also finished 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 6th in their other Long Stirrup and 12-14 Equitation classes.  Great Strides is proud of "Hope" and so thankful that she is owned by such a wonderful family!

Newcomer Rachel Shields had a fantastic first horse show!  Rachel rode "Bodie", a very kind and handsome school horse owned by Southern Oak, to an exciting Reserve Champion in the Short Stirrup.  Wow! what a first horse show for this young lady.  Rachel also finished 2nd, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 5th, and 6th in her Short Stirrup Equitation and Hunter classes.  Rachel is now working hard with her new horse, Sugar Magnolia.  Look for them in the Pre-Children's this summer!

Thank you to all the parents and horses for a great C show this month! 

The following week, Great Strides attended the Raleigh Spring Classic A show.  While the weather was soggy the ribbons were flying for Savannah Strawbridge and Alyssa Long.

Savannah and her pony, Happy Days had another stellar horse show together.  "Ritchie" was Champion of both the Schooling Ponies and Children's Ponies.  Savannah piloted "Ritchie" to a clean sweep of the Children's Pony Division winning all 5 classes.  Great Strides and Savannah have been working everyday all day towards these ribbons and goals.  Savannah puts in hours and hours of riding a week aboard her pony and the Pepperwood Ponies.  Thank you to Meredith Maye for allowing Great Strides and Savannah to ride and train on your roster of wonderful ponies.

Alyssa Long and her Children's Hunter, Miss Congeniality put in a strong performance during the Spring Classic as well.  "Stella" handled the awful weather very well thanks to Alyssa's good riding they came away with some great ribbons in the always tough Children's Hunter competition.  They jogged 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 8th!  Great ribbons were rewarded to this duo and rightfully so!

In April, Great Strides will be attending the April Raleigh Indoor C Show and also the Sedgefied A Rated Show April 30- May 3.  Look for Sarah Allen, Emily Allen, Becca Agocs, Mary Kristensen, Savannah Strawbridge, Kat North in the news for April! Also, keep an eye out for more news on the Pepperwood Ponies.

Thanks again to all the parents for a great month and great horse showing and training!

FEBRUARY 2009 NEWS-

Spring is coming around the corner and more excitement continues to unfold for Great Strides clients.  Great Strides is looking forward to warmer weather and fun horse shows this spring.

Savannah Strawbridge and Ritchie had a wonderful show this month at the Raleigh Winter II Indoor Show in February.  They were Champion of both the 2'6 Schooling Pony Division and the Children's Pony Division.  They were 1st, 1st, and 3rd in the Schooling Ponies and 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, and 2nd in the Children's Ponies.  Hard work has really paid off for this duo.  We owe many thanks to Meredith Maye for allowing Savannah access to her wonderfully bred and trained ponies at Pepperwood Farm, LLC.  Look for the Pepperwood Ponies at the upcoming Raleigh Shows!

Great Strides in looking forward to the March C Show at the Raleigh Horse Complex.  Rebecca Agocs and Token will be attending their second show this season.  Along with Rebecca the following will make their 2009 show season debut: 

Mary Kristensen and Center Stage, sale horse located at Pepperwood Farm, LLC owned by Mary Kristensen

Keeping Secrets- sale pony,owned by Pepperwood Farm, LLC  and shown by Rachel Cervone

Pepperwood Enchanted- sale pony, owned by Pepperwood Farm, LLC and Meredith Maye, shown by Savannah Strawbridge

Sarah Allen and Hope

Rachel Shields and Bodie

The following week March 12 through 15 Great Strides will be attending the Raleigh Spring Horse Show.  Savannah and Happy Days ("Ritchie") will be in the Schooling Ponies and Children's Ponies.  Also attending this show will be Alyssa Long and Miss Congeniality in the Children's Hunters 15-17.  Great Strides is excited to be out and about enjoying the forecasted warm weather at these March shows.

Also, in the news: 

Pepperwood Farm and Great Strides are happy to welcome Kelsey Puliafico to our pony rider roster!  Kelsey and Early Bird are a great combination and we are happy to have Kelsey return to the Great Strides training program!

Welcome Samantha Sharpwine to Pepperwood Farm,LLC and we hope you enjoy your lessons and enjoy the Pepperwood Ponies!

Congratulations to Rachel Shields on the lease of Sugar Magnolia.  "Patience" is owned by Kim Cummings of Idlewild Farm (www.idlewildfarmnc.com).  We can't thank Kim enough for allowing Rachel to learn the ropes on her wonderful Childrens/Adult Hunter.  Congratulations Rachel and welcome to the big show world!

**JANUARY 2009 NEWS-

Happy New Year!  Even in one of the coldest and most wet months of the year, Great Strides riders and horses have continued to train, improve, and show off their skills. Great Strides is proud of the dedication our riders have for the sport.  Only the die hard ride when it is in the 20's. 

Rebecca Agocs and her horse, Raylyn's Token, had a great debut at the Raleigh Indoor C Rated Show.  Token was wonderful and Rebecca rode beautifully over the 3 day horse show.  Competing in the toughest division offered, Children's Hunter, was a success for this horse and rider pair.  Token has a huge! background in the dressage arena but Rebecca made it known that she and her horse were going home with some ribbons.  Great Strides is so proud of this dynamic duo and we can't wait to horse show with them again.  Rebecca was 3rd and 6th in the 15-17 equitation and also 6th and 6th in the Children's Hunter Division out of 19 very good horse and rider teams.  **Token is boarded at Southern Oaks Equestrian Center**

Savannah Strawbridge will ride come wind, rain, snow, and the coldest of weather.  There isn't much that stops this little one from racing to the barn for lessons and loving her pony, "Happy Days."  Lisa, Savannah, and her other trainers at Solo Show Stables worked very hard in January to reach their new goal of jumping 2'6.  At the ripe ole' age of 9, Savannah shows more grit and determination than many riders twice her age.  All the hard work paid off and Savannah and Ritchie reached their goal of jumping 2'6 at the A rated show in Raleigh this month.  With only one show under her belt with Ritchie, she has graduated from Short Stirrup and is now in the Children's Pony division and the Schooling Pony division at 2'6.  Ritchie continues to earn his right to be called "THE WONDER PONY."  Savannah and Ritchie were 2nd and 5th in their Schooling Pony debut.  They were also 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th in Children's Pony.  Want to know their secret to success....  Well the recipe is.... Great Parents + A kid who loves to ride + A wonderful pony + Good Training + Solo Show Stables + Never missing lessons or practice rides =  Reaching the Stars with Your Riding. 

Great Strides is looking forward to warmer days and to training at our newest select location, Pepperwood Farm.  Check it out at www.pepperwoodfarm.com.  Thanks to Meredith Maye for allowing me to use this amazing facility!  Pepperwood Farm is home to wonderfully bred show ponies and sport horses.

Also, check out Andy Watkins Photography,our newest division of Great Strides Enterprises. 

**DECEMBER 2008 HIGHLIGHTS-

WOW! is all I can say for December.  There is so much to write in the news this month. 

Beginning the month in Southern Pines, NC Great Strides had a tremendous success with "Worth My Ph.D" a.k.a "Chloe".  Harold Chopping (www.soloshowstables.com) rode Worth My Ph.D. to a second place finish in the 3'6 Level 3 jumpers at the Carolina Horse Park A Rated Horse Shows. They were double clean in every class.  "Chloe", as we call her around the barn, continues to show us how ready she is to get into the Children's or Adult Jumpers and bring home the ribbons for a new owner.  A big Thank You to Harold Chopping for providing his talents to us.

Mid-month, there were wedding bells for Lisa Dye and her new husband, Andy Watkins.  The wedding was amazing and beautiful in the Teton Mountains of Jackson Hole, Wyoming on December 12th.  Following the wedding and honeymoon we had a great reception for all of our friends and family at my dear friend, Mary Kristensen's, home in Cary, NC. 

The close of the year brought about new beginnings and happy endings.  Great Strides is proud to announce the sale of "Vaquero" to Adrienne Classen of Wits End Eventing (www.witsendeventing.com) in Thurmond, NC.  Kat North has done a wonderful job in starting "Vaquero" in the dressage ring and horse show world.  Thanks to her, "Vaquero" is ready to go and event this Spring.  Great Strides can't wait to see photos of "Vaquero" in his first horse trials.  Congratulations Adrienne Classen and a big Thank You to Kat North of Spotted Fox Farm in Moncure, NC for her help and guidance in bringing along a future eventing star!

New beginnings came in with the New Year.  Students, Alyssa Long and Savannah Strawbridge attended the Holiday Classic A Rated Show from the 28th to the 31st. 

Alyssa and "Miss Congeniality" had a beautiful debut in the Children's Hunters.  They ribboned in every class and showed a strong ability to dominate the 3 foot hunters.  Alyssa and "Miss Congeniality" negotiated difficult courses and made it look easy.  "Miss Congeniality" shows tremendous scope and we expect with more mileage to see them in the 3'6 divisions in the years to come! Way to Go on your 3 Foot Debut!  4th, 4th, 5th, 7th in the Over Fences and 7th in the Hack!

Savannah Strawbridge is currently located on cloud nine and may never come down :).  She is the proud mom of "Happy Days" aka "Ritchie."  We are lucky to have met "Ritchie" who has a tremendous record in the Medium Pony Hunters and loves the job of teaching Savannah the ropes of showing on the A circuit in the Short Stirrup.  Watch out North Carolina and beyond... "Happy Days" has landed and Savannah is a shining star in the Short Stirrup.  With only 3 lessons under her belt and butterflies in her stomach, Savannah rode to a Champion in the Short Stirrup at the Holday Classic A Show.  1st,1st,1st,2nd, 2nd in Short Stirrup Hunter and 1st and 2nd in the Short Stirrup Equitation.  A huge Thank You to Jamie Terhune (www.jamieterhune.com) for allowing us to lease "Happy Days".  These ponies are one is a million and we can't thank Jamie Terhune enough for trusting Great Strides with "Happy Days."

Along with our new beginnings, we welcome the addition of "Hope" and "Archie" to our training program and their owners Sarah, Emily, Lori and Keith Allen.  Although they are old friends we are just as excited to welcome them back to our program and can't wait to brag about them at the upcoming "C" shows that Great Strides attends.  Welcome Allen Family!

We couldn't close without bragging about one additional rider, Alyson Long.  Alyson has shown tremendous improvement in this month and shows improvement with every lesson.   By far, her character alone will get her far.  You can't go a lesson without at least a little giggle-fest with this one!  Great Strides hopes to see her at the upcoming shows in 2009!

In closing,  Happy New Year to each of you who read this blog.  We hope you had a wonderful holiday and hope to see you and the shows in 2009!  Good luck to our fellow competitors from near and far and Great Strides wishes you leaps and bounds of happiness with your four legged friend!

NOVEMBER 2008 HIGHLIGHTS-

November saw many new changes for Great Strides Enterprise clients and fun horse show ribbons won by experienced and green horses.

"Vaquero", also known as Bruno around the barn, came home from Jerry King in early November and now resides at Spotted Fox Farm in Moncure, NC.  Kat North and Jason Mahoney have taken him in and he has proven himself to be quite the show horse this month.  Kat has been doing a lot of work with Bruno and they are coming along great.  Bruno attended both the MacNairs Hunter Schooling Show and the MacNairs Dressage Show this month.  Kat showed him in the Introductory Level Tests and they received 67's on their tests and also got an 8 on gaits.  We can't wait to see where they go from here... If Bruno has not sold he will attend the Frostbite Series Event and make his cross country debut!

November also brought "Center Stage" to Southern Oak and he is now being marketed by Great Strides.  "Center Stage" is for sale and will make an excellent Adult Hunter but shows wonderful movement and ability for the dressage ring as well.  Look for "Center Stage" to make his 2009 show debut at the January Raleigh Indoor Show.  We hope to find him a wonderful show home soon so that someone can have quite a fancy horse to start their 2009 show season.

Another big highlight for Kat North who trains with Great Strides was her Blue Ribbon finish in the UNC Health Benefit Hunt Night Pairs Competition aboard "Little Red Rocket".  Kat's other mare, Chloe, also won the Junior Hunt Over Fences as well as Reserve Champion Junior Hunt Horse with a junior member of the Red Mountain Hounds Hunt.

Many of our riders are also enjoying hunting this year.  Jason Mahoney and his horse, "Happy", can be seen galloping about all over North Carolina this winter.  We are sure they will have many happy hunts and look out for Jason and Kat blazing through the fields!!!!

One of our youngest riders, Savannah Strawbridge, continues to try new ponies for her 2009 show season.  We are hopeful to find just the right one for her soon so we can debut the new pony at the Raleigh Holiday Classic in December!

Alyssa Long and her horse, Miss Congeniality, had a great show in the Pre-Children's division at the Duke Benefit A rated show.  Alyssa finished 2nd, 5th, and 7th amongst 30 competitors.  Way to go Alyssa!

Great Strides is looking forward to a great New Year!